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Bradd stands 6km west of a flagpole, and runs towards it with a speed of 9km/h. Pitt stands 5km east of the flagpole, and runs towards it with a speed of 8km/h. At what displacement from the flagpole are they when they meet?

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

When Bradd and Pitt meet, they are approximately 176 meters west of the flagpole, which is the result of calculating the distance Bradd covers in 0.6471 hours at a speed of 9km/h towards the east.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the displacement from the flagpole where Bradd and Pitt meet, we can set up an equation based on their rates and the initial distances from the flagpole.

Let's denote the time at which they meet as t hours. In t hours, Bradd would cover a distance of 9km/h × t, and Pitt would cover a distance of 8km/h × t. Since Bradd is initially 6km west of the flagpole and Pitt is 5km east, we are interested in the point where the sum of the distances they run equals 11km (6km + 5km).

Therefore, we have the equation:

9t (Bradd's distance) + 8t (Pitt's distance) = 11km (total distance)

By solving the equation for t, we find that the runners meet after:

t = 11km / (9km/h + 8km/h)

t = 11km / 17km/h

t = 0.6471 hours

At this time, Bradd would have run:

Distance run by Bradd = 9km/h × 0.6471h ≈ 5.824 km

Therefore, Bradd is around 0.176 km or 176 meters from the flagpole when they meet, since he started 6 km away and has covered approximately 5.824 km towards it.

Pitt is in the opposite direction, so we do not need to calculate his precise distance from the flagpole as the question only asks for the displacement where they meet relative to the flagpole.

User MikeTeeVee
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0 votes

Answer:

176 m west of the flagpole.

Step-by-step explanation:

In exact and precise interpretation of the question the answer is 0 m as they would both crash into the pole when they got there and presumably stop having suffered broken noses and serious groin injuries.

However my GUESS as to the intent of the question is that the first to reach it will sidestep the flagpole slightly and continue on their current path until they meet and slap a high five as they pass one another.

In that case, they have 6 + 5 = 11 km to traverse at a closing rate of 9 + 8 = 17 km/hr.

They will meet in 11 km / 17 km/hr = 0.647 hrs

Bradd will have covered 9 km/hr(0.647 hr) = 5.823 km

meaning that they will be 6 - 5.823 = 0.176 km or 176 m west of the flagpole.

Pitt will have covered 8 km/hr(0.647 hr) = 5.176 km

meaning they will be 5 - 5.176 = - 0.176 km east which equals 0.176 km west of the flagpole

User Jonathan Mayer
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